Historic Restorations

This is how we got our start. As Dale Carlisle’s reputation began to grow throughout New England, he soon found himself getting whole flooring projects for historic homes, museums, old government buildings and landmarks of all kinds. Dale not only knew wood, but knew how to create custom surface treatments and stains that would match boards 300 years old.

Because most of the homes built in our country in the 1600s-1700s used these magnificent wide pine boards on the floors, when historic restoration projects wanted to recreate historically accurate floors -- such as in the Jethro Coffin House on Nantucket the oldest home in America -- they turned to Dale.

The original name of our company was "appropriately" Carlisle Restoration Lumber, which spoke not to the restored wood itself, but rather to the “restoration” of the spirit and tradition of the original wide plank floor. Several years ago, we made the decision to change our name to Carlisle Wide Plank Floors in order to better represent the true nature of what we make -- traditional, custom-crafted solid wood flooring in a variety of pines, hardwoods and reclaimed antique woods.

Historic Projects

African-American Meeting House

Nantucket, Massachusetts Antique Eastern White Pine

This small post-and-beam building, dating from about the 1820s, was a school for African-American children, a church and a meetinghouse. It is the second-oldest existing building in the U.S. built by free African-Americans for their own use.
Miller Chapel

Princeton, New Jersey Heart Pine, 6"-10" widths

Built in 1833 as the second building constructed on the Princeton University campus, this chapel is the place of worship for the Princeton Theological Seminary. The interior, including the well-worn floors, is being restored to more faithfully reflect the original design.

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Canterbury Shaker Village

A National Historic Landmark — Canterbury, New Hampshire Heart Pine, 4"-8" widths

Set on a hillside surrounded by open fields and ponds, this 695-acre site includes 25 original buildings that reflect the customs, inventions, craftsmanship and values of this utopian society.

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Joshua Ward House

A National Historic Landmark — Salem, Massachusetts

The Joshua Ward House, built in 1785-1787, is a blend of the Georgian and Federal styles. George Washington spent the night of October 29, 1789, as Ward's guest.

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Saugus Ironworks

A National Historic Landmark — Saugus, MassachusettsEastern White Pine, 13"-20" widths

The site of the first integrated ironworks in North America (1646-1668), the Saugus Ironworks has been called the “forerunner of America's industrial giants.” It includes a reconstructed blast furnace, a forge, a rolling mill and a restored 17th-century home.
Jethro Coffin House

Nantucket, Massachusetts Eastern White Pine, 13"-20" widths

Built in 1668, the Jethro Coffin House is the oldest residence on Nantucket and the sole surviving structure from the island’s original 17th-century English settlement.

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Molly Stark House

Dunbarton, New Hampshire Eastern White Pine, 13"-20" widths

Daughter of the first postmaster of New Hampshire and wife of General John Stark, who defeated the British at the Battle of Bennington, Molly Stark turned her home into a hospital for her husband’s troops during the American Revolution.
Milleridge Inn

Jericho, New York Eastern White Pine, 13"-20" widths

This property dates back to early settlement by Quakers and a tiny two-room house built in 1676. It later became the large, gracious home of a prosperous Quaker family who, it is believed, quartered British and Hessian troops there in 1775.
Thomas Halsey House

Southampton, New York Eastern White Pine, 13"-20" widths

Built in 1648, this is one of the oldest homes in New York. The house is furnished with beautiful 17th- and 18th-century antiques, early textiles, and rare ceramics, which create the sense that it is still inhabited by the family.
White Haven

A National Historic Landmark — St. Louis, Missouri Eastern White Pine, 13"-20" widths

The former home of President Ulysses S. Grant, White Haven has five historic structures, including the main house, which has been restored to its appearance in 1875, when Grant was president.
Governor Hunt House

Vernon, Vermont Eastern White Pine, 13"-20" widths

This 1789 house was built by Jonathan Hunt, one of the first people to clear land in what became Vermont. The house has been completely restored to its original condition and configuration, a process that took nearly a year and a half.